Monday, December 26, 2011 – According to Iraqi officials, an explosion rocked Baghdad the capital city of Iraq early Monday.

The explosion took place after a suicide detonated a car packed with explosives outside the interior ministry of Iraq killing at least four people.

Medical officials in Iraq said, at least 27 others were wounded in the attack in the Bab Al Sharji neighbourhood.

A ministry official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, the attacker took advantage of interior ministry guards opening the compound’s main gates to allow in electrical maintenance workers to ram his explosives-packed car through and set it off.

The attacks follow the withdrawal of the last US combat troops from the country after nearly nine years of military engagement.

The attacks came amid heightened sectarian tensions, raising fears that the political turmoil in Iraq could spark a return of sectarian bloodshed that nearly ripped the country apart during the height of the war.

At least 60 people were killed during the fresh wave of violence across Baghdad on Thursday.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North
A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, today. The leader plans direct fire and roadside bomb attacks against Afghan forces. One suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.

South
A coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a routine operation in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 910 pounds (455 kilograms) of marijuana. All of the drugs were destroyed on site without incident.